According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, in the United States, 1 in 5 women who undergo hysterectomies may not have needed the procedure. This is disturbing news, seeing as not only is the hysterectomy one of the most common surgeries performed on women-by the time they are 60, 1 out of 3 women, will have had this procedure-it is also incredibly invasive and can be a life-altering course of treatment.
In a hysterectomy, part or if not all of the uterus, and perhaps even the ovaries and cervix, are taken out. A woman who has had a hysterectomy will stop menstruating and won’t be able to conceive children.
Often, a hysterectomy is performed to treat a medical condition, including benign conditions-especially when uterine fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, and endometriosis are involved. That said, Medical News Today notes that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists require healthcare professionals to recommend that patients whose gynecological conditions are benign seek alternative treatments before undergoing a hysterectomy.
Although fewer hysterectomies are being performed than ever before, over 400,000 procedures still happen in this country each year. According to researchers who conducted the study, of 3,397 women who had a hysterectomy for a benign disease at 52 hospitals in Michigan, 37% of them had files indicating that they didn’t undergo any alternative care prior to the procedure. 18.3% of the women found out after surgery, based on pathological findings, that they did not need the procedure after all.
A hysterectomy may lead to serious side effects. There is also the loss of the ability to get pregnant. If you or someone you love sustained serious injuries or suffered severe emotional trauma from undergoing this type of medical procedure-whether needed or not-you should speak with our Boston medical malpractice lawyers right away.
A hysterectomy may lead to serious side effects, including bladder injuries, injury to the urethra, and bowel injuries. If the ovaries were taken out this may result in premature menopause. If you believe that your doctor did not properly advise you of medical alternatives to a hysterectomy and you sustained serious injuries or complications, you underwent an unnecessary hysterectomy because of a misdiagnosis, or were forced to undergo this surgery because of a delayed diagnosis, you may want to explore your legal options.
Our Boston gynecology malpractice lawyers would like to offer you a free case consultation. Altman & Altman helps patients and their families recover their Massachusetts personal injury or wrongful death compensation that they are owed. There may be medical costs and other damages you sustained because of the medical care and advice that you were administered.
Almost 1 in 5 hysterectomies are ‘unnecessary,’ study finds, Medical News Today, January 11, 2015
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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